Malnutrition is responsible for the stunted growth of millions of children in the country. Experts say the scourge can be combated through regular consumption of eggs. DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA reports
Poultry farmers in Imo State converged on City Primary School Hall, Owerri for the conference organised by Imo State chapter of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN).
The two-day event provided participants with the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the industry and the best way for it to move forward and contribute to the well-being of the country. One of such areas of discourse was benefits of regular egg consumption to humankind.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), nearly 151 million children under the age of five in the world were still stunted in 2017. For many of these children, the poor growth which will blight their entire lives began in their mothers’ wombs. Poor quality of food is one major contributor to poor growth both in the womb and during the vulnerable first years of life.
With the theme “Humble Egg: Good Food for All Ages”, speaker after speaker spoke on the need for more consumption of eggs among the populace to fight malnutrition and hunger.
Imo State Commissioner for Agriculture Chief Emma Nworgu, who lamented that millions of Nigerian children are malnourished, said egg contains nutrients that are good for the body.
The commissioner, who was represented by a director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Innocent Osuagwu, commended the association and its members for their giant strides in trying to bridge the gap in poultry and egg production.
“Importation of poultry into the country has been banned mainly because of its health implications. As a result of this, the government and people of Nigeria are relying on you farmers to have adequate poultry and egg to feed our huge population,” he said.
The commissioner told the farmers that the government was feeling their pains, and was packaging programmes that would help in the production of eggs in larger quantities and affordable to the ordinary man.
He said: “That is the reason we have packaged sufficient programmes to make agriculture a worthwhile venture in the state.
“And this also is the reason we’re embarking on biometric data capturing of various farmers to use it to assist you and make Imo agriculture-compliant state. Apart from this, the government will also assist you in training.”
The state Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (ALFAN), Dr. Vitus Enwerem, described egg as versatile, nutritious and affordable.
While congratulating the poultry farmers in the state on their dogged determination to provide high-quality eggs to feed the ever-growing population in spite of all adverse conditions prevailing in the state, ranging from non-availability of the market for eggs, high cost of feed, drugs and poultry equipment to egg glut, the ALFAN chairman, however, said eggs are still available on every table at an affordable price.
He urged the poultry farmers to continue to feed the people with the egg, which he described as the best nutritious food.
Enwerem called on the state government to come to the aid of the poultry farmers in order to help them remain in business and continue to meet the nutrients need of the people.
The state Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Chijioke Uchegbu, said the association had positioned its members to contribute to the social welfare of the people, especially children.
He said in an effort to make eggs available and affordable to the ordinary people, the association reactivated the moribund Poultry Farmers Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited in addition to the acquisition of 100 plots of land for farmers’ market.
According to him, apart from a market where the farmers can sell their products fresh without discrimination from market unions, the farmers also need soft loans to expand their holdings as well as feed mills and hatcheries which he said the government can provide to attract more investors in the poultry sub-sector in the state.
The provision of these, Uchegbu said, would enable people to be able to afford eggs, knowing the vital role egg plays in the lives of children and adults.
Egg consumption, particularly the yolks, protects the eye against damage from the sun. The zeaxanthin and lutein which the egg yolk contains also reduces the risk of developing cataracts. Another benefit of egg intake is brain health and cognition development because lutein and choline are two important nutrients found in eggs that are good for early brain development during pregnancy and infancy particularly brains that are used for memory and learning
The PAN Chairman presented some crates of eggs to the pupils of City Primary School, Owerri as part of their activities to mark this year’s World Egg Day.
Dr. Jiddere Cyrus described egg as food that contains a lot of nutrients such as minerals, high-quality protein, good fats and various other lesser-known nutrients.
According to him, one egg contains vitamin B12, B2 and B5 in high concentration, adding that it also contains selenium, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, magnets, vitamin E, folate and many more, with only 77 calories and six grams of quality protein and five grams of fats.
He said almost all the above nutrients are contained in the yolk part of the egg, adding that those who discourage people from consumption of egg yolks were simply ignorant because the white or albumen part of the egg contains only water and protein.
Dr. Cyrus said the benefits of egg consumption cannot be over-emphasised because, according to him, it enhances fertility in both men and women, adding that it as a balanced diet low in calories. It also helps in reducing weight because “eating a protein-rich breakfast increases a person’s satiety-a feeling of fullness.”
He noted that egg consumption, particularly the yolks, protects the eye against damage from the sun, stating that the zeaxanthin and lutein which the egg yolk contains also reduces the risk of developing cataracts.
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Another benefit of egg intake, he said, is the brain health and cognition development, because lutein and choline which are two important nutrients found in eggs are good for early brain development during pregnancy and infancy, particularly brains that are used for memory and learning.
He lamented that despite the great benefits of egg, they are not widely consumed by many people across the country.
He noted that there was a glut in egg production in June and July this year not because of over-production but because the product is not widely consumed.
Debunking the argument that eggs are high in cholesterol, which made many people avoid its consumption, Dr. Cyrus said, however, that dietary cholesterol has minimal effect on the cholesterol in the blood.
He said: “Cholesterol is produced in the liver every day. The amount produced depends on the amount consumed. The liver produces less when more is consumed and produces more when less cholesterol is consumed.
“Following this discovery, the government of the United States of America (USA) in 2016, issued a news dietary guideline for healthy living in which it removed egg from the list of dangerous foods associated with cardiovascular heart diseases. It rather included egg in each of the three healthy eating patterns recommended by the guideline.
“This has cleared the way for those that were afraid of eating eggs because of cholesterol. They can go ahead and continue enjoying their egg delicacies and obtain the beneficial effects it has on intelligence, vision and body weight.”
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